MizDaisy

Most of the time, any OBC from a TA is coming out of whatever they get as a commission, and it isn't much. The first TA who wouldn't offer the higher OBC would probably have had to given you money out of her pocket. Some can afford to do it, some can't. It's not the same as it is when someone is selling a car at a dealership and gets a commission for a higher priced vehicle.

Either way, that was a good snag.

Be happy with what you have....always......because the odds of an upgrade are minimal. Very minimal.

Thanks so much for all your answers - really appreciate it! UnfortunAtely I waited too long and all the verandah rooms on the wonder are booked.. So fantasy it will be! Hopefully next year!!

 

 

 

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So sorry about that, but you're right, you would definitely want a balcony room for a Panama Canal cruise.

After that entire review which DID provide the OP many of the things that are different about DCL, that is ALL you had to say? Nitpick nitpick. Nothing drives me more crazy than someone that constantly criticizes yet has nothing of value to add. If you're so down on Disney why even sail on them? Go elsewhere and be happy.

 

I could also say more but I'll leave it at that.

I just wanted to show you, and a few others, that I'm NOT down on Disney. I've loved my 12 or 13 Disney cruises. When it comes to offering advice or comparing one Disney cruise to another, I'd like to be helpful.

I just don't believe that people can't have just as good a time on another line. Any trip is what you make of it. You can either have a great time, or decide to mope, and find silly little things to pick at, and ruin everything.

This is from a different thread here:

MizDaisy

Cool Cruiser

Join Date: Oct 2005

Posts: 2,115

Not only is the Panama Canal absolutely fascinating, but the ports are better than the Western.

When we went on the Panama Canal cruise (with Disney), it was like being at home. I honestly don't like the Dream and Fantasy. I don't like the adult club area's layout as well as on the Magic and Wonder (and I especially LOVE the Wonder), everything seemed too crowded, too hectic and too long a walk to the room and back, lines were too long......being back on the Wonder or Magic is like heaven. Perfect size. And with a cruise as long as the PC cruises, you really get to feel as though you are a part of the whole experience, like a member of the DCL family. It really is awesome.

Not only is the Panama Canal absolutely fascinating, but the ports are better than the Western.

When we went on the Panama Canal cruise (with Disney), it was like being at home. I honestly don't like the Dream and Fantasy. I don't like the adult club area's layout as well as on the Magic and Wonder (and I especially LOVE the Wonder), everything seemed too crowded, too hectic and too long a walk to the room and back, lines were too long......being back on the Wonder or Magic is like heaven. Perfect size. And with a cruise as long as the PC cruises, you really get to feel as though you are a part of the whole experience, like a member of the DCL family. It really is awesome.

I have to guess then, that it's not an issue with the number of people (babies are included in that number) booked in the room......

I have to agree though, that if you call DCL's info line, you're going to get many different answers.

But also, the number of Pack N Plays are limited, so it's good to be getting this settled far ahead of time.

I found a picture on the internet of 2 pack n plays in an cat 9 (oceanview) room:

 

I didn't get to see this picture, but I used Google and Bing and only found a picture of an oceanview with two pack n plays, a father feeding twins....but it was on HAL. :confused:

True, and it also depends on the ship and the itinerary. The only way to do a fair comparison is to compare ships of similar size and age doing similar itineraries at the same time of the year. Of course, it also helps to keep the discussion rational and as unbiased as possible. Freedom of the Seas and Disney Fantasy are very close in terms of capacity, routes, and age. Freedom has amenities that Fantasy lacks (ice rink, surf simulator, etc.) and Fantasy has amenities that Freedom lacks (Aquaduck, teen zone, etc.). If you factor those things out of the equation (because they only serve to introduce systematic bias), and look at what's left, the differences in price really come down to what a particular target audience is willing to pay for the experience. Disney knows where the on/off buttons are for its target audience better than almost any company in the industry, and they are experts at wringing every last dollar out of those customer's wallets. That doesn't make Disney "superior" (what the OP was asking), just different.

This is probably the best post, in regard to what the OP was asking, that I've seen on this whole thread.

Thank you for being rational.

So how come DCL can charge so much extra just for "free soda" since their market is saturated, but not offering a half off discount more than 6 months before the cruise date from the same port region, going to the same ports with ships they cannot fill and still are charging an extra $1500 dollars?

 

There cannot be that many Disney Die Hard Fans over and over and over again to fill the ships and pay that much more?

 

ex techie

 

EDIT TO ADD:

I haven't seen or been on RCI's ships so wonder why the price is lower, and not saying DCL is superior in anyway.

Depending on the stateroom, some of RCI's prices are higher. The balcony rooms surrounding their large pool that has the diving show (can't remember what they call it) can be really expensive.

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Come on Bear!

We all know it will look like this!

 

 

ex techie :p

LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I heard Star Wars music when I saw it! Or...for the Disneyphiles....Star Tours.

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Diasy I am not going to debate this over and over' date=' BUT I will point out the following:

 

!. Yes carnival is cheaper, because the cruise product they offer does not demand a higher price. Their clientele is looking for cheap. am sure their are some folks who feel DCL is to expensive for them, more power to them I would suggest RCCL or NCL, not Carnival. IF you read the carnival forums you will note even the die heart carnival fans are not happy with the massive cut backs. Some others don't care as long as the price does not go up.

 

 

 

2. DCL has little problem filling their ships and still charge a premium price because they have a better cruise product........vessels, service and presentation.

 

AKK[/quote']

 

We just have to remember that you and I need to agree to disagree. I think if you took away Mickey Mouse and the other "Disney" touches, you come down to a cruise ship. JUST a cruise ship, where food, service and everything else is subjective. There are some things on Disney that are better, but some things, even on Carnival (especially their newer ships) that a lot of people, including myself, think are better.

 

 

This thread wasn't one of the "Is it worth it" threads, where it's TOTALLY subjective and dependent on what's worth something to one person may not be worth it to another. Rather, it was "Is Disney SUPERIOR".....and in my opinion, they're only superior in the fact that they're the only ones who have everything "Disney".

 

How much something costs really shouldn't be used to judge the type of people who go there, or travel, or shop at a certain place. Just because something is less expensive, doesn't mean the people to partake are less classy or whatever, and just because something is more expensive doesn't mean those people who partake are better than anyone else. Life's experience has taught me a few things, and this is one of the biggies.

I love the debates going on here and so Im going to jump in.

 

 

I think an important element of the "Disney only has 4 ships vs the relative colossal fleets of CCL and RCL et al, and its effect on pricing", is being missed.

 

 

I theorize that the average DCL guest is not a perrenial cruiser that goes

from one cruise line to the other looking for a better or different cruise experience such as Orville99 who cruises frequently on multiple cruise lines.

 

Rather, I think the average DCL guest is, like myself, a Disneyphile. We go for the Disney experience - theming events characters etc. That is, what the value is of DCL vs all the others. Also, because of that niche market, it may be that only 4 ships is currently supportable. Having only a small amount of ships also drives up demand and if anyone knows Disney geeks, its Disney or bust, so they are willing to pay the higher fares.

 

Building off of that theory, we must also realize that for all the other cruise lines, its the cruise and thats it. There are no Carnival theme parks, movies, touring Carnivals On Ice, Carnival stores in malls etc. They have to make all their money on the cruise experience and thats it. Perhaps thats why they need to have that many more ships and as such, a more affordable fare to get people onto the ships.

 

Disney is marketing unto itself and one experience supports and grows interest in the other. At the end of the day, a DCL guest will opt for another kind of Disney experience for their next vacation, not for another cruise experience. The vacation dollar stays within the Disney family

 

For Disneyphiles, its the Parks vs DCL, not the FOTS vs Fantasy.

Very well said. Although I have always considered myself to be a Disneyphile....but maybe I don't fall into that category any more, because I find myself lately rarely feeling as though what Disney charges, parks or cruises, is just too outrageous any more. I'll always love Disney, and I'll always wish (most of the time) that I were either at Disney or on a Disney cruise, but since I've done the cruises more than ten, eleven or twelve times, and the parks too often to count, I just can't justify the expense any more. The quality of their product IS high.....but not that high. So now we nab a Disney trip when we can, but if we want to have a longer trip, it's going to have to be either finding an island home to stay on somewhere (which we also enjoy) or cruising on another line.

But I have also always said that I think DCL is really great for kids. My kids were older when we cruised on other lines, so I honestly can't compare the kids' clubs and experiences....I wish I could....so I have to stick with Disney as being the best for kids. I think if people can afford it, and cruising is what they want to do with their kids, then they should do it on Disney. At least once, anyway.

I also have one spare bedroom that's decorated entirely in Disney. Signed prints and paintings, cells, plush....all kinds of different things. Even a real wood carved Pinocchio. So I guess I still AM a Disneyphile....the cost is just not reasonable at this time in our lives.

This debate goes on and on and its silly.

 

ALL LINES WILL CHARGE WHATEVER PUBLIC WILL PAY!

 

Disney charges more because people are willing to pay more for Disney magic and pixie dust and the over all better cruise.

 

The high end lines provide the ultimate in passenger luxury and charge the maximum for it.

 

RCCL' date=' and other similar lines charge the level there customers will pay.

 

Carnival is selling cheap, because of their own problems and their clientele want to pay less.

 

Don't think for a second that any line would set cheaper rates unless they have to, to fill their cabins. If people wont pay more for their product/cruises, they have to sell cheaper.

 

 

AKK[/quote']

 

Carnival's prices were lower even before they had any problems. I guess I could say I'm one of their clientele....but that could be said for the other lines I've cruised on multiple times. I know people who cruise Carnival and also cruise Disney.....a lot of us used to cruise Disney all the time....until their prices went beyond what they offered, which if you leave out the "Disney-ness", isn't any more than any other cruise line in particular. All of them will have good and bad. Because the original topic was "What makes Disney superior", if you look at the whole picture, Disney isn't superior. Some people will think that for them, it is, and that's peachy. But other people will think another line is superior. All I've said so far is that the "plusses" some people have listed aren't really plusses, when the cost of the entire "included" package is considered.

 

As far as marketing, I agree with others who have said that when you have the "Disney" part that no one else has, and you only have 4 ships, you CAN take advantage of people. And I really believe IN MY OWN OPINION AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE that they do. There is nothing beyond the Disney experience that their cruise ships have that is worth paying more for.

All of them have good food or bad, depends on what you like. I've been on ships that were immaculate and not DCL, and have been on DCL when it wasn't always immaculate. I could make a list, but we've heard it all before. When it comes down to nuts and bolts, and leaving out the Disney factor, they offer nothing more than most ships do.

 

It has nothing to do with me not liking them, or not being able to afford them, so telling me to go elsewhere is childish. Speaking in general, they are not affordable (any more) and I happen to think that's pretty sad.

Another disappointment with DCL, when they built the Dream and Fantasy, they had the opportunity to make MORE family-friendly staterooms like their two bedroom suites on the Magic & Wonder, yet they made LESS. None, in fact. Even the Walt and Roy don't have a second bedroom. Why? Because by forcing families with more than two or three kids, or those with older boys and girls who really can't be sharing a bed, into booking two staterooms, they can charge for four full adult fares, as opposed to two adults, and 2, 3 or 4 kids' rates.

Like I've said, if I owned a business where I could get away with that kind of highway robbery, I might. Actually, I do own a business where I could do that, but morally it's just unacceptable.......

Quite honestly, if you are flexible on your dates, you can sail on Disney Cruise Line for about the same as a comparable ship

 

Just go to the Disney Cruise Line web site, spend some time looking at the offers and I'm sure if you are flexible with your dates and port of departure, you will be able to find a reasonably-priced cruise.

 

If the prices are too high today, check back in a week or so.

 

 

soccer

Moki'sMommy is right, DCL rarely ever lowers their prices. AND....most people with kids in school aren't flexible with their dates, and Disney knows that, and they charge extra knowing that. I realize they're a company like any other, in business to make money....but where's the extra Pixie Dust when it comes to pricing? If they loved kids so much, wouldn't they make it easier for families to afford to cruise when school is out?

One thing that keeps me looking at DCL (I've cruised it twice, Carnival once): I look at boards for other lines and people are asking if they should pay for priority boarding, if they should get soda (Coke where I come from) cards, how to sneak drinks onboard, what kind of walkie talkies to use, should they do specialty dining for a fee, is any time dining really any time dining. I'm sure there are other things. I don't have to worry about any of that with Disney. The cost isn't the issue; it's that I don't have to think about it. Maybe I like less options ?😊

 

Another thing: I look at some of the mega RCL ships and the cost of an Oceanview balcony isn't much savings for the same cabin on DCL. I'm not going on a cruise ship to have a view of trees and shopping. I would have stayed on land for that.

 

I know I'm paying a premium on DCL and I expect and so far have received a certain level of service because of the premium and the Disney name.

On Disney, you DO have to pay for priority boarding, by booking a suite. I've only cruised on Carnival, DCL, Princess and NCL, and I don't recall seeing anywhere that I could have paid for priority boarding, other than by booking a suite. :confused:

I carry my Pepsi onboard DCL and the other lines. For the amount of cost difference between "most" other cruises and DCL, the "free" soda is not worth it. The soda fountain is not in a convenient location unless you're at the swimming pool, and it's not a sacrifice to have coffee, tea, water or milk at dinner. If I want a soda at dinner, the $2 charge is a lot easier to swallow (no pun intended) than the thousand or more I would pay extra on DCL.

The amount DCL charges for a lost phone isn't worth letting one of the kiddies wander the ship with it, and we never needed walkie talkies...so that's a non issue. I've heard of more people who won't take the phone out of the Disney stateroom for the same reason.

Specialty dining on DCL is more expensive than it is on any other ship I've been on, and it's limited to either just one restaurant or two, depending on which ship you're on. Other lines have more choices for that, and more choices that are included in the fare.

You have a choice on other lines between having a seating time for dinner, or using the option of Anytime Dining....it isn't forced upon people.

What it comes down to, is that the things that people complain about paying extra for on other lines (or my favorite misnomer "being nickeled and dimed") just isn't true. I don't think I know too many people who could even drink enough alcohol in a week to make the "carry on your own" worth it. In other words, not many people can drink more than a thousand dollars' worth of alcohol in a week or less. If they do, then that means that Carnival isn't the only line that should get stuck with the (totally untrue) tag of being full of drunks.

I'm actually pleased that Disney has some pricing integrity and hasn't become a commodity like some lines, which sell and promote on price alone. Bottom line, if you feel Disney is too expensive then book a line which is more within your budget. The market will dictate what Disney can charge, and so far they have had to do very little discounting relative to other brands. That speaks volumes for the Disney name, what it stands for, and its perception.

This comment reminds me of the time I saw someone post that they liked that DCL's prices were higher, because it kept away the "riff raff" that you see on other lines like Carnival.

Not only is it not true, because people have been known to try to rob banks to take their kids on a Disney cruise, but anyone can get a credit card these days.....:rolleyes:......but it's also very prejudicial and insensitive.

Speculation will always be a part of the Cruise Critic boards and that will never change. Speculation is not always helpful or appropriate but there is a time and place for it. Whenever there is a new ship in the works or a refurbishment planned, there is always going to be speculation on what features and amenities may be included, not included, or changed. That is just human nature and sometimes speculation can be fun and interesting given the right circumstances.

True. But speculating and passing it off as fact isn't a good thing.

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Sorry' date=' but speculation and guessing has no part here. The point of the boards is CORRECT information--at least correct at the time the poster cruised. Sometimes it helps to note when that was and/or which ship it was.

 

Some people here DO brag and when you call them on it they suddenly insist that once they even slummed in an inside cabin. Funny how that isn't mentioned until you call them on "always" cruising in suites.

 

Some of us have cruised with many celebrities (usually on the special cruises)...some feel the need to drop names, others find it more appropriate to preserve a fellow guest's privacy.''

 

People who indulge in speculation and bragging are making targets of themselves. Same for people who post mis-information...."adults can't sleep on bunks." Per DCL, anyone who weighs less than 220 pounds can sleep on a top bunk. You make a wrong statement, you'll get corrected....whether that wrong statement was made in ignorance or out of some odd need to post regardless of accuracy.

 

I do realize that we don't share facial expressions, etc. here and sometimes words come across more harshly than desired. But flat out ugliness has no place here.

 

All just my opinions.[/quote']

 

This was very thoughtful, and very well said. Thank you.

 

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Believe me though, he doesn't write about the suites like they do on the Holland America forum.

 

On the Holland America forum someone asks about a $249.00 inside cabin on 3 or 4 day cruise and the response by a number of posters say that they are taking a 30 day or more cruise in a Neptune or Penthouse suite and feel that they have helped the person inquiring about Holland America. This is pretty much a daily occurance.

 

Since Disney Cruise Line has very few suites and not many posters have sailed in them like DISNEY FANTASY has, actually his advice for those considering our one, it is probably helpful.

 

In general, the Disney Cruise Line forum is a nice place to hang out. Maybe we all just need to sometimes agree to disagree on some things. We aren't going to be able to change each others mind.

 

I hope we all can get along and enjoy our Disney Cruise Line trips.

 

soccer

I don't usually like to post this, but I've sailed in Disney's suites far more than Disney Fantasy has, but I don't like to advertise it, I don't post my number of cruises or stateroom levels in my signature....I'd rather I just add some info when I can, and not let people think that just because I could pay for (or charge on a credit card) a suite, that I am somehow better than everyone else. For example...making an announcement that the president of Disney Cruise Line is in the room next door. Maybe the man didn't want people to know that!! I could tell people how many times I've had private meetings on the Bridge with the Captains....or sat and chatted with a previous president of DCL....but what's the point??? I don't want to make people feel bad, if they can't or don't experience the same level of opportunities.

And by the way....as far as being a punching bag.....Disney Fantasy was the first one on here to post a nasty picture. If he truly wanted to ignore someone, then ignore it he should.

The bottom line is in my world no cruise (as long as it stays powered and doesn't sink :() is a bad cruise. Disney just provides my family with the overall experience that best meets our expectations so far. It would be ever better if it didn't cost so much!

^^^ I absolutely agree with this^^^

But the name of the thread WASN'T "Why do you think DCL is the best cruise line for you"......if that were the case, then there really wouldn't be anything disputable at all, because everyone has different needs.

Rather, the thread was "Why is Disney SUPERIOR".....and there are a lot of facts showing that it isn't superior in some areas.

I really hate to do this, I'm not the spelling police, but just for next time, it's entree.....not ontray. It would be SO much easier if words were spelled the way they sound.;)

A lot of things are purely subjective.

Food....some people will like Disney's food better than others will.

The piped-in Disney music....I've cruised with people who say it drives them nuts. I can hardly ever hear it, due to loss of hearing in one ear, so it doesn't bother me.

Smoke.....I know of some people who have never been in a stateroom with a smoker on the balcony next door, but whenever the subject of smoking comes up, people go crazy complaining that they can't stand it, they're going to die breathing it....and these are on Disney discussion boards. So if someone didn't smell smoking onboard, they were very lucky.

And now even Carnival and NCL have banned smoking on their balconies, and have the same outdoor area policy as Disney.

The movie theater is a big plus on DCL, in my opinion.

Theater.....they seem pretty much all the same. I like the ones that have actual raised balcony seating as opposed to Disney's gradual incline.

Staff.....I've met some really wonderful crew members on many different lines.

Cleanliness....again....some good and some bad on every ship I've been on...which is more than 20.

Like most things, whether one thing is "better" than another is totally subjective. I think my husband is handsome, but others might look at him and say "Ewww". ;)

The only thing that is a true, indisputable truth, is that among the "mainstream" lines, Disney is by far more expensive. Whether it's worth it or not, is a solely personal decision.

Everything in that review is relevant today. Nothing has changed except that Disney corrected the few negatives that I pointed out. The review does an excellent job pointing out the differences (which some may consider superior) between Disney compared to other lines. If the OP wants to get an idea about what makes DCL different, then that review will certainly spell it out for them.

 

If you don't agree, simply don't read it and move on. You have basically added NOTHING constructive to this thread except to nit pick at other's posts. Nothing like an arm chair critic. The WORST kind.

Maybe I didn't, in your opinion. But your opinion isn't the only one that matters. I added the stateroom and balcony sizes on the Infinity....that was constructive.

Nowhere in this whole Cruise Critic Board does it say that ALL opinions are not welcome. Just because you disagree with me, doesn't mean I have to stay away and not comment. I don't see you listed as the Post Police.

How about, if you don't like what I have to say, you could perhaps not read MY posts?

After that entire review which DID provide the OP many of the things that are different about DCL, that is ALL you had to say? Nitpick nitpick. Nothing drives me more crazy than someone that constantly criticizes yet has nothing of value to add. If you're so down on Disney why even sail on them? Go elsewhere and be happy.

 

I could also say more but I'll leave it at that.

I'm not "down" on them. As it applies to this thread, I just don't think they're superior to some. I've already said that they do have some things that ARE superior, and for kids, it's a great line. The OP wasn't asking for 5 year old reviews, and I was just pointing out that something that someone might end up believing to be true (free soda) and something that might make them believe is a superior offering on DCL, really isn't.

When I said that I could say more, but didn't, that was because I didn't want to go through the entire review and make comments. The "free soda" wasn't the ONLY thing....it's just a pet peeve whenever someone mentions it.

There's nothing that drives me more crazy than when someone says Disney has "Free" soda. It's not free. It's INCLUDED in that higher price that you're paying. And it's not convenient. If I'm down in the theater, or in a club, and I want a soda, I'm not about to run all the way up to the pool deck to get a small cup of soda. And the choices are limited.

Palo and Remy are very nice, but other ships also have some really nice upsell restaurants, and they aren't as high priced as Palo and Remy.

Anyway, I could say more, but it's really that "free" soda thing that gets me.

Standard insides on DCL's Dream and Fantasy are 169 sq. ft. vs. 170 sq. ft. on the Infinity. Standard insides on the Magic and Wonder are 184 sq. ft. I don't consider the latter's difference of 14 sq. ft. to be "quite a bit smaller." According to the info on Celebrity's web site, their cabins do have a small couch: http://www.celebritycruises.com/ships/celebrity-infinity#Staterooms/ships/celebrity-infinity/staterooms/stateroom-subtype-in-is

 

Celebrity's standard veranda cabins @ 170 sq. ft. plus 38 sq. ft. veranda are certainly smaller than verandah cabins on DCL (204/214 sq. ft. plus verandahs), but they aren't "half the size" - as moki'smommy said.

The verandahs on the Infinity are MUCH larger than any of the ones on Disney.